NEWS ANALYSIS
New funding to expand the support for people with Long COVID in Wales , Northern Ireland and England announced
Last month saw the announcement of a slew of new funding in Wales , Northern Ireland and England to expand the support on offer for people affected by Long COVID .
England has earmarked an extra £ 100 million to expand care in children ’ s services , while £ 1 million will fund new services for the treatment and assessment of Long COVID in Northern Ireland , and a £ 5 million package of support has been confirmed in Wales , as part of a new patients pathway programme dubbed Adferiad ( Recover ).
In England , the NHS is setting up specialist Long COVID services for children and young people as part of a £ 100 million expansion of care .
The 15 new paediatric hubs will draw together experts on common symptoms such as respiratory problems and fatigue who can directly treat children and young people , advise family doctors or others caring for them , or refer them on to other specialist services and clinics .
Some £ 30 million will also go to GPs to improve diagnosis and care for those with Long COVID , while the new investment will also boost online services .
The boost to dedicated services for young people is part of a package of investment in a range of measures to help young people and adults with Long COVID , including a major focus on specialist treatment and rehabilitation services .
There is already a network of specialist Long COVID clinics in England , which have been given £ 34 million of funding ; some £ 70 million of the new investment will extend these clinics and set up the paediatric hubs , which will bring together expert clinical teams , including paediatricians , physiotherapists , nurses and occupational therapists .
In Northern Ireland , health minister Robin Swann announced £ 1 million of funding for new services for the treatment and assessment of Long COVID , including the establishment of a new multidisciplinary assessment service . The services will be in place across all health and social care trust areas and be open to referrals from both primary and secondary care .
Elements of the new service will include : a bespoke pulmonary rehabilitation / dysfunctional breathing service for patients with significant respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19 ; follow-up services for patients discharged from critical care ( both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ); strengthening psychology support to all trusts ; and signposting and access to self-management resources .
The minister said that the proposed model will also strengthen core services for psychology and post-critical care recovery in the long term , including follow-up services for patients .
It is anticipated that the services will be established by the end of October 2021 . In the meantime , patients displaying Long COVID symptoms will continue to be treated via existing services in both primary and secondary care .
In Wales , health minister Eluned Morgan confirmed a £ 5 million package of support , as part of the Adferiad ( Recover ) programme , which will expand the provision of diagnosis , treatment , rehabilitation and care .
The Welsh Government says this will be ‘ a made in Wales approach – responding to the particular needs of each individual and giving care as close to home as possible ’.
The aim of the approach in Wales is to minimise the number of referral points for people , providing clear signposts for people to support themselves where possible , or ensuring that they are given access to specialised services where necessary following a consultation with their GP .
Targeting funding at pathways where patients can get personalised treatment for their needs , as well as ensuring care is provided as close to home as possible , are the key aims of the Welsh Government ’ s rehabilitation framework for COVID-19 recovery .
The money will go towards helping healthcare workers and AHPs develop infrastructure to flexibly deliver services to help people recover from COVID-19 , Long COVID , and those more widely impacted by the pandemic .
It will also help provide high-quality , evidence-based training and digital resources to assist in diagnosing , investigating and treating Long COVID , and supporting people in their treatment and rehabilitation .
Furthermore , it is intended that it will support investment in digital tools , which will provide data about service demand and capacity modelling and ensure the NHS helps people make the right decisions for their care and treatment .
Laren Walker , RCOT professional adviser said : ‘ Occupational therapists across the UK are already demonstrating their vital role in the assessment and rehabilitation of people affected by Long COVID . It is hoped that the new funding will expand the support available from occupational therapists and other health professionals and make access to services more equitable for everyone who needs them , including children and young people .
‘ RCOT will continue to contribute to strategic discussions about the development of post-COVID pathways in all four nations .’
© Getty Images / Synergee
12 OTnews July 2021